for the calling and duration of parliaments: and your Majefty Owes to us, that our reprefentation, free from the force of arms or corruption, fhould be preferved to us in them.

It was for this we fuccefsfully ftruggled under James the Second; for this we feated and have faithfully fupported your Majefty's family on the throne.

The people have been invariably uniform in their object; though the different mode of attack has called for a different defence.

Under James the Second they complained, that the fitting of parliament was interrupted, because it was not corruptly fubfervient enough to his defigns. We complain now, that the fitting of this parliament is not interrupted, because it is corruptly too fubfervient to the defigns of your Majefty's minifters. Had the parliament under James the Second been as fubmiffive to his commands, as it is at this day to the dictates of a minister, instead of clamour for its meeting, the nation would have rung, as now, with outcries for its diffolution. The forms of the conftitution, like thofe of religion, were not established for the form's fake; but for the fubftance. And we call God and men to witness, that as we do not owe our liberty to thofe nice and fubtle diftinctions, which places and penfions, and lucrative employments have invented; fo neither will we be cheated of it by them: but as it was gained by the ftern virtue of our ancestors, by the virtue of their defcendants it fhall be preferved.

Since therefore the mifdeeds of your Majefty's minifters in violating the freedom of election, and depraving the noble conftitution of parliaments are notorious, as well as fubverfive of the fundamental laws and liberties of this realm; and fince your Majefty, both in honour and juftice, is obliged inviolably to preferve them according to the oath made to God, and your fubjects at your coronation; We your remonftrants affure ourselves that your Majefty will restore the conftitutional government and quiet of your people, by diffolving this parliament, and removing thofe evil minifters for ever from your councils.

This remonftrance was received with very long and continued acclamations. It was then read by Sir James a fecond time with the fame effect.

Mr. Lovell then gave the following written motions to the lord mayor, who gave them to the common ferjeant: they were fucceffively put to the livery, and carried.

1. That a copy of this addrefs and remonftrance be fairly tranfcribed, figned by the town-clerk and prefented to his Majefty.

2. That the fheriffs immediately wait upon his Majesty to learn when he will pleafe to receive the fame.

3. That the Right Hon. the lord mayor, and our other reprefentatives in parliament, attended by our sheriffs, common-council, recorder and every proper officer of the citizens of London, be defired to prefent the fame.

Then

Then these two motions were made by a liveryman.

4. That the thanks of the livery be given to their chairman, and committee, for their conduct in this important bufinefs.

5. That we do ratify and confirm the acts of this committee.

Moved by Mr. Lovell.

6. That the thanks of the livery be returned to the Right Honourable the lord mayor, for his diftinguished, fpirited and patriotic conduct.

One hand, and one only, was held up against the first question, it was apprehended to be by mistake; but Mr. Bedell declaring it to be his opinion, and not by mistake, the livery made a lane for him to come forward, and speak, if he had any reasons to give against it; but he contented himself with holding up his hand alone against the fecond queftion alfo. The other questions paffed unanimously. The gentleman who feconded the motion of thanks to the committee, congratulated the livery that they had fueh men amongst them, who were not to be browbeaten or bullied. He then informed them of Mr. Harley's threats and treatment of the committee at the laft common council.

Great care had been taken to suffer none but livery men to be in the hall; that care fucceeded, and the confequence of it was vifible in the great decorum obferved; fo that one fingle man was able, without the leaft incivility to declare his diffent from fo prodigious a concourfe of the livery.

At half past two the common-hall was adjourned.

The 'fheriffs did immediately wait on the King, but his Majefty being at dinner they were refufed admittance.

The next day, Wednesday, March 7, at eleven o'clock the fheriffs waited on his majesty at St. James's, to know when it would be convenient for his ma jefty to receive the Remonftrance to be prefented by the lord mayor, aldermen, recorder, and common council; they waited till twenty minutes after two, when the levee being over, they, with the remembrancer, were admitted into the closet, when Mr. Townshend addreffed himself to his majesty in thefollowing words:

May it please your Majesty,

"By order of the lord mayor, aldermen, and livery of the city of London, in common-hall affembled, we took the earliest opportunity, as was our duty, to wait upon your majefty; and being prevented by one of your majesty's houthold, who informed us that it was your majesty's pleasure to receive us this day, we wait on your majesty humbly to know when your majesty will please to be attended with an humble Addrefs, Remonftrance, and Petition."

To which his majefty was pleafed to return the following answer:

"As the cafe is entirely new, I will take time to confider of it, and tranfmit you an answer by one of my principal fecretaries of state."

On Thursday evening the theriffs received the following letter from lord Wey. mouth :

'Gentlemen, St. James's, March 8, 1770, 'The king commands me to inform you, in confequence of the message which you brought yesterday to St. James's, that he is always ready to receive applications from any of his fubjects; but as the prefent cafe of Addrefs, Remonstrance and Petition, feems entirely new, I am commanded to enquire of you in what 'manner it is authenticated, and what the nature of the affembly was, in which this measure was adopted ?---When you furnish ME with answers to these · queftions, I fhall fignify to you his majesty's further pleasure.

Sheriffs of London.

"I am, Gentlemen,

• Your most obedient
'humble fervant,

WEYMOUTH."

On Friday, March 9th, at twenty minutes after 12, the sheriffs went to St. James's. About one Lord Bolingbroke, the Lord in waiting came: the Remembrancer told him that the Sheriffs of London were attending his Majesty's pleasure, and that they required an audience. Some time after Lord Bolingbroke came out, and enquired of the Sheriffs whether he was to tell his Majefty that they came with a fresh meffage, or with a meffage? the Sheriffs answered, With a meffage. Soon after the two Secretaries of State, Lord Rochford and

lord

Lord Weymouth, came to the Sheriffs. Lord Weymouth afked them," whea ther they had received his letter, which was written by his Majesty's order? Sheriffs. "We have."

Lord Weymouth. "His Majefty defires to know whether you come in confequence of that letter, or whether you come on any fresh bufinefs ?"

Sheriffs. "We come in confequence of that letter."

Lord Weymouth. "Would it not be more proper to fend an answer in writing through me?"

Sheriffs. "We act ministerially. As Sheriffs of London we have a right to an audience; and cannot communicate to any other perfon than the King, the fubject of our meffage."

Lord Weymouth. "I do not difpute your right to an audience: but would it not be better and more accurate to give your meffage to me in writing ?"

Sheriffs. "We know the value and confequence of the citizens right to apply immediately to the King; and not to a third perfon; and we do not mean that any of their rights and privileges shall be betrayed by our means.

His Majefty's levee began at a quarter paft two, at which time the two fe cretaries came to the fheriffs, and Lord Weymouth faid, "His Majesty, underfanding that you come minifterially, authorized with a meffage from the city of London, will fee you as foon as the levee is over.'

.

As foon as the levee was over, the sheriffs were introduced to the King's closet. The King did not, as usual, receive them alone, but Lord Gower, Lord Rochford, and Lord Weymouth were prefent. Mr. Sheriff Townsend addressed his Majefty in these words :

"May it pleafe your Majefty,

"When we had laft the honour to appear before your Majefty, your Majesty was graciously pleased to promise an ANSWER by one of your Majefty's principal fecretaries of state; but we had yesterday QUESTIONS propofed to us by Lord Weymouth. In anfwer to which, we beg leave humbly to inform your Majesty, that the application which we make to your Majefty, we make as fheriffs of the city of London, by direction of the livery in common hall legally affembled. The addrefs, remonftrance, and petition, to be prefented to your Majefly by their chief magiftrate, is the act of the citizens of London in their greatest court; and is ordered by them to be properly authenticated as their act."

To which his Majesty was most graciously pleased to reply, in these most gracious. and condefcending words to the city of London:

"I will confider the answer you have given me.”

Whereupon the fheriffs withdrew.

When the Sheriffs went into the clofet, the City Remembrancer, according to his office and duty, would have attended them; but Lord Bolingbroke (like a Swifs porter) rudely shoved him back; infifting upon it, that he had not a right to go in, and fhould not enter there. When the Sheriff's audience was ended, the Remembrancer, like a man, an Englishman, and a worthy officer of a great and powerful city, very fpiritedly and properly told Lord Bolingbroke, that his Lordship had done wrong; for that as Remembrancer, attending the Sheriffs, he had a right to enter the clofet with the Sheriffs. Lord Bolingbroke faid, it might perhaps be fo; but that he had never been in waiting on such an occafion before, and hoped he never fhould again.

"Whilft the Sheriff's were in waiting on Wednesday at St. James's, Lord Denbigh came up to the City Remembrancer, and asked him whether the Addrefs, &c. was figned and fealed, or how it was authenticated? the Remembrancer faid, he was a city officer, and that it was no part of his office to give Lord Denbigh an answer to his question. Lord Denbigh then went to Mr. Sheriff Townsend, and asked him whether the business which brought him there was not new and fingular; and whether the city had ever prefented a Remonftrance to the King before? Mr. Townsend replied with another queftion, Did ever a King of England before turn a deaf ear to the petitions of 60,000 Freeholders, and his back on those who prefented them? Lord Denbigh then asked what made a corporate act? Mr. Townsend laughingly answered, an act of the corporation' to be fure."

March 12, This morning the Lord Mayor ordered fummons to be iffued for
VOL. VI.

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Common-Half to receive the Sheriffs Report, and his Majesty's Answer; But
the following letter being faft night received by the Sheriffs of London, those
Summons were not delivered.
St. James's, March 12, 1770.

Gentlemen, "The King has commanded me to fignify to you his Majefty's pleasure, that he will receive on Wednesday next, at two o'clock in the afternoon, the Addrefs, Remonftrance and Petition, which you have informed his Majefly is to be prefented by the Chief Magistrate of the City of London.

To the Sheriffs of London.

I am, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient
humble fervant,

WEYMOUTH.

Notice was accordingly given to the Lord-Mayor, the City Representatives in Parliament, the Aldermen, Sheriffs, Common-Council, Livery, Recorder and City Officers, to attend the delivery of the faid Remonftrance.

Tuesday 13. At the Court of Aldermen this day were prefent the Lord Mayor, Sir Robert Ladbroke, Mr. Alfop, Sir Charles Afgill, Sir Richard Glyn, Sir William Stephenfon, Mr. Harley, Mr. Turner, Sir Henry Bankes, Mr. Trecothick, Mr. Peers, Mr. Nath, Mr. Hallifax, Mr. Shakespeare, Sir James Efdaile, Mr. Plumbe, Mr. Kenuet, Mr. Kirkman, Mr. Townsend, Mr. Saw bridge, Mr. Roffeter, and Mr. Bird.

Sir Robert Ladbroke faid, that a paper had been agreed to in Common-halk which had a falfe title, and likewife began with a falfhood: For it was called the "Address, Remonftrance, and Petition of the Lord-mayor, ALDERMEN,' &c. and began with "We have already in our Petition, &c."

He therefore made the following motion:

"That a paper, entitled the Addrefs, Remonftrance, and Petition of the Lord-mayor, Aldermen and Livery of the City of London, having been lately Aigned by the Town clerk, whereby the public might be mifted to confider this court as parties thereto; this court, in vindication of their own honour, and of the conftitution of this city, think fit to declare, that the faid paper is no act either of this court or of the corporation of London and that the authenticating any addrefs, remonftrance, petition or refolution of any meeting of the Livery, by the official signature of the Town clerk, is not warranted by law or ufage.'

This motion was feconded by Mr. Alfop: upon which Mr. Townsend rofe, and faid he was much furprifed (that is, as much as any thing moved by thofe worthy Aldermen could furprize him) to hear fuch a motion made there, a motion by which the court of Aldermen were called upon to decide upon the rights of the whole Livery of London, rights which were not dependent on the will or opinion of the Aldermen. He faid, he did not doubt but that many gentlemen there might be very forry that the NEGATIVE POWER, fo unjustly affumed, had been taken from that court, or that even the right of election of reprefentatives ftill remain to the Livery, He obferved, that the Aldermen were fummoned to attend at the Common-Hall, and do make a part of all other Common-Halls which are periodically convened; therefore that every act of a Common-Hall, is the act of the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery, who are all fummoned, and do all together compofe a Common-Hall; however, that if any of the Aldermen difliked the proceedings of the Common-Hall, they fhould have attended, and there have made their objections, which it would have been much more candid and honourable to have done, than to fuffer the citizens to do what they might think improper, merely to have an opportunity of condemning the measure afterwards in an inferior court, not competent to decide on the act of the whole body, of which the court of Aldermen only made a part. But he faid, it was most of all extraordinary that gentlemen should propofe to that court to determine in a moment on the rights of the Livery at large and the powers of a Common-Hall, without producing any precedents or authorities for fuch determination; without any previous examination of records or city books; without fhewing from whence they themselves claimed that power of controuling the acts of what, he had been well informed, was the greatest of

all

all city courts. Mr. Townfend therefore concluded, that he hoped the Lord Mayor, had too great a regard for the rights of the whole city, to fuffer fuch queftion to be put in the Court of Aldermen before they had first made out clearly their own competency and power of controul.

Mr. Sawbridge then faid, he was not at all furprized at this motion; for he had heard of CERTAIN gentlemen who had a meeting at a tavern in St. Paul's Church-yard, for the purpose of drawing up a protest against the proceedings of the city; but that finding their Tavern Proteft to go on very heavily, he fuppofed this motion was now intended to answer the fame ministerial purpose.

The Lord Mayor then declared that he was bound to preferve and protect equally the rights of all the citizens; that it was well known not to be the first time that the court of Aldermen had not only attempted, but actually ufurped the rights and power of the citizens at large, that therefore he would never while he fat in that chair permit them to renew thofe attempts, or decide upon the rights of other men: nor would he put any fuch question as that propofed by Sir Robert Ladbroke, until the city records had been fearched, in order to fee what the rights of the citizens of London were, and what precedents fhafl appear to explain the powers of the court of the Common-Council, Court of Mayor and Aldermen, and of the Livery in Common-Hall affembled. He added that he was fure the motion was not originally the gentleman's who made it that he was fure it was planned and written for hin at the other end of the town by fome gentlemen, who perhaps thought it a mafter-stroke in politics to have fuch a queftion propofed by the Father of the City.

Sir Robert Ladbroke did not reply.

Sir Charles Afgill declared his fentiments against the attempt made by those gentlemen to induce the Court of Aldermen to take upon themfelves the power of determining in that manner es parte against the rights of the collective body of the Livery of London: he faid the aldermen fhould have made their objections at the Common-Hall, of which they were notorioufly upon all occafions a part. Mr. Trecothick likewife declared himself against Sir Robert Ladbroke's motion he faid he had, as an Alderman, attended the Common-Hall; that he had pever feen any part of the Remonstrance before he came thither; that he thought the violation of the right of election a moft grofs and flagrant injury offered to every elector of Great Britain, and that upon the whole, he approved the Addrefs, Remonftrance and Petition; and as he attended had and approved the proceedings of the Common-Hall, he fhould certainly manifeft that approbation by attending their addrefs, &c. to St. James's.

*

LADBROKE, ALSOP, Hallifax, Shakespeare, TURNER, Bird, Rofliter, Kirkman, NASH, and HARLEY, fupported the motion with their usual temper and abilities, but without the fhadow of an argument.

Mr. Harley asked the Lord Mayor whether he did abfolutely refuse to put the queftion? the Lord Mayor anfwered, that he did abfolutely refufe to put it; that he had given his reafons for fuch refusal; and would have the question and 'his' tefufal, with his reafons entered on record.

1

Mr. Harley objected to the entry, but it was ordered by the Lord Mayor to be done, and entered accordingly. The Lord Mayor then faid, we will now pro ceed to other bufinefs. Mr. Harley faid, No! face he would not put that question, the aldermen might retire.

The Lord Mayor then put the question, that James Shephard, attending that court in order to be admitted al broker, be called in? It paffed in the negative. The Lord Mayor asked Mr. Alfop, Is there any reafon for this? Mr. Alfop anfwered, No! my Lord Mayor; but if you will not put our question, we will put a negative on all other questions.

༤་

The Lord Mayor anfwered, if that is the cafe, and if the court of aldermen will not fuffer any business to be done here, I muft do the neceffary business of the city in the court of common council, which I am empowered and have a right to do---Mr. Harley bowed. He has practised boring. The question was then put for William Ward to be called in to be admitted a broker. It paffedin the negative.

The question was then put for Gabriel Anthony Ernft, to be called in to be admitted a broker.

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